Self-opening container top

ABSTRACT

Container top which is useful as a closure for beverage containers and the like and which is openable without requiring a can opener or other additional implements, which does not require removal of a tear tab or a similar disposable article, which does not deposit a detached closure member within the container, and which is noninjurous to the user. The container top is provided with a scored section which can be deformed from the container top to lie inwardly of the container. An opening member attached to the container top includes a tab displacing portion for separating the tab along the scored line, and also includes a deforming portion for deforming the tab from the top. The opening member is movable from a non-use position into alignment with the scored tab, and may contain an aperture coincident with the opening presented by deformation of the tab, through which the contents of the container are accessible. In another disclosed embodiment of the present apparatus, the opening member provides a removable closure for an opened container.

United States Patent Wells et al.

[4 1 Apr. 30, 1974 SELF-OPENING CONTAINER TOP [75] Inventors: Robert A.Wells; Carl J. Strobe,

both of Atlanta, Ga.

[73] Assignee: SMW Atlanta, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

[22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 216,709

[52] U.S. Cl. 220/48, 222/81 [51] Int. Cl B6541 17/00 [58] Field ofSearch 220/48, 47; 222/80, 81, 222/83; 229/7 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,338,461 8/1967 Cookson 220/48 2,899,100 8/1959Wolkenberg. 220/48 3,618,815 11/1971 Heffner 220/48 3,472,415 10/1969Woodruff... 220/48 3,628,695 12/1971 Bryant 220/48 PrimaryExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Jones, Thomas & Askew[57] ABSTRACT Container top which is useful as a closure for beveragecontainers and the like and which is openable without requiring a canopener or other additional implements, which does not require removal ofa tear tab or a similar disposable article, which does not deposit adetached closure member within the container, and which is noninjurousto the user. The container top is provided with a scored section whichcan be deformed from the container top to lie inwardly of the container.An opening member attached to the container top includes a tabdisplacing portion for separating the tab along the scored line, andalso includes a deforming portion for deforming the tab from the top.The opening member is movable from a non-use position into alignmentwith the scored tab, and may contain an aperture coincident with theopening presented by deformation of the tab, through which the contentsof the container are accessible. In another disclosed embodiment of thepresent apparatus, the opening member provides a removable closure foran opened container.

21 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PA'TENTED m 30 m4 sum 1 or 2 FIG '1 6 FIGPATENTED man 1914 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG 8 FIG FIG

FIG

SELF-OPENING CONTAINER TOP This invention relates in general tocontainers and in particular to an improved container top which isselfopening.

The conventional self-opening container of the type commonly known asthe pop-top container and widely used for beverages and other purposesis notoriously well known to those skilled in the container andpackaging arts. These containers typically include a container endhaving a tab portion provided according to one of several knownexpedients and defined by a suitable metal-weakening operation such asscoring. The tab portion is attached to a pull ring, and opening of thecontainer is accomplished by pulling the ring for tearing removal of thetab along the score lines. The near-universal acceptance of this type ofeasy-open container is amply demonstrated by visiting any producer orretailer of popular beverages such as beer and soft drinks, and also bythe ubiquitous appearance of letter caused by carelessly discarded teartabs.

Modifications of the conventional pop-top container have been proposedin an attempt to eliminate a removed article, such as the teartab andattached ring, while retaining the easy-open feature which is popularwith consumers. One such proposal, for example, provides one or moreseparate plug portions mounted in holes formed in an end of thecontainer. The mounting of the plugs enables finger pressure to beapplied directly against the plug portions from the outside of thecontainer end to physically dislodge the plugs into the container. Theseplugs then drop to the bottom of the container, and are thus notavailable as potentially littering material. However, this proposedsolution includes a number of problems which may be detrimental to itspublic acceptance. For one thing, the presence of one or more plugs in abeverage can is unsettling to a person drinking from the can, especiallyso when he hears the plug moving about in the container while he isdrinking from it. Moreover, the hole or opening left in the containerend by the aforementioned push-in opening procedure presents a potentialinjury hazard to the finger of a person opening the container and alsoto the tongue and/or lips of a person drinking from the container.

Still another objection to the aforementioned modified self-openingcontainer is found in the relative expense of manufacture, as comparedwith the conventional pop-top container end.

Other examples of prior-art attempts to provide a self-opening containerwhich omits the conventional detached tear tab/pull ring are found insuch U. S. Pats. as Nos. 3,355,058; 3,442,416; and 3,160,309. None ofthe containers proposed by these cited patents is known to have achievedcommercial acceptance, however, for such reasons as unacceptable cost ofmanufacture, difficulty of opening, and/or factors which arepsychologically unappealing to the consumer of the beverages or otherproducts in the containers.

Still another problem confronted by the container art and in particularby the increased popularity of relatively large cans, such as a No. 9can, for various carbonated beverages, is the need for some closuredevice so that an opened can can be closed for storage to maintain thecarbonation and freshness of the beverage for subsequent use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved self-opening container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-openingcontainer in which container opening is accomplished without completeseparation of any article from the container.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aself-opening container in which opening of the container does notdispose any loose unattached object within the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-openingcontainer which minimizes or eliminates the potential hazard of personalinjury during opening of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-openingcontainer which can be selectively closed and opened after initialcontainer opening takes place.

Many of the other objects and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription of working embodiments thereof, including the annexeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric exploded view of a container portion includingan end member containing self-opening structure according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the assembled container end shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view of an opening member taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 44 of FIG.

2, showing the self-opening structure in position to be opened;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3, showing thecontainer as opened;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a self-openingcontainer topstructureaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.

end according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the blank as shown in FIG. 8 and installedas an end on a container;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the container end of FIG. 9, moved intocontainer opening position;

FIG. 11 is a section view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10, showing thecontainer of the third embodiment in position for container opening; and

FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 10, showing thecontainer of the third embodiment as opened.

Stated in general terms, the self-opening container of the presentinvention includes a container end with an opening tab preformed thereinby a suitable operation such as scoring or severing of the metal. orother material from which the container end is fabricated. An openingmember is associated with the container end and includes a portion whichcan be pressed against the preformed opening tab to force the tab fromthe container end and inwardly of the container without necessitatingcomplete removal therefrom. The opening member may be movably attachedto the container end to be received in a storage well before thecontainer is to be opened, and can be moved into opening positiondisposed over the opening tab. The opening member can be provided with apassage aligned with the open FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a blank for acontainer ing of the opened container, for drinking or pouring thecontents of the container, or may be alternatively provided with aclosure portion for closure of the opened container. In anotherdisclosed embodiment of the invention, the opening member is formed asan integral part of the container end and is folded over the chimeportion of the container during manufacture to be positioned inproximate location with the preformed opening tab.

More particularly and with reference taken to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isshown generally at a container such as a conventional beverage can andhaving a cylindrical body 16 with an end member 17. An opening tab 18,shown in broken line in FIG. 1, is defined in the end member 17 by asuitable metal-weakening operation such as scoring 19 or the like.Although the scoring in the present embodiment is depicted as beingprovided on the inside of the end member, that is, the side of the endmember facing the interior of the container, the scoring may optionallybe provided on the outside of the end member or on both sides thereof inopposed alignment. The tab 18 of the present embodiment is defined alongboth sides thereof by the scoring 19, and is defined along the end orbend line by scored portions 190 and 19b which are separated by anunscored segment 25. The purpose of the unscored portion 25 will becomeapparent below.

An opening member 20, shown detached in the ex ploded view of FIG. 1, ismovably attached to the end member 17 by a suitable attachment devicesuch as a rivet 21 affixed to or through the end member 17, with therivet 21 passing through a hole 24 in the opening member of sufficientsize to permit the opening member to be manually movable over the endmember 17. The opening member 20 has a tab covering portion including anaperture 22 defined by a surrounding rim 23. The area of the end member17 around the rivet 21 may include a pressure release member defined bythe scoring 26 partially surrounding the location whereat the rivet isaffixed to the end member.

Disposed onthe underside of .the opening member 20, to be in confrontingrelation with the end member 17 of the container, are severing orparting edges 27a and 27b defining substantially thesame outline as theopening tab 18 defined by the scoring 19. These parting edges 27a, 27bpreferably include a point 28 situated at the end of the opening member20 which is remote from the location of attachment of the opening memberto the container. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the outline of theopening tab 18, for the presentlydisclosed embodiment of the invention,extends toward the chime 29 of the container to form a tip 30, and thistip is the portion of the outlined opening tab 18 which is firstcontacted by the point 28 of the parting edges 27a, 27b, as will becomemore apparent below.

The end member 17 has a recess 31 formed therein by a stamping operationor by any other suitable process 31 may take the shape of a depressionformed in the end member 17, as shown in FIG. 1, or the recessalternatively may include a sloped region 32 as shown in FIG. 2 toprovide a ramp for moving the opening member 20 from the recess to aposition overlying the opening tab 18.

In considering the operation of the embodiment described thus far, itwill be assumed that a container 15 filled with a substance such as abeverage has been pro vided with a self-opening container top asdescribed herein, with the opening member 20 as installed on the endmember 17 initially positioned in or over the recess 31. In this way,any unexpected force or pressure applied to the opening member 20 duringthe shipping or other handlingof the container cannot cause inadvertentopening of the opening tab 18. When a person desires to open thiscontainer, assuming that the end member 17 includes the pressure releasemember defined by the scoring 26, he first raises or lifts the openingmember 20 away from its position as normally received in the recess 31,so that the bending force applied through the rivet 21 to the end member17 causes at least part of the scoring 26 to break or tear. Thisbreaking or tearing of the pressure release member permits the pressurestored in the container to be released and facilitates the subsequentopening of the container.

After the container pressure has been released, the opening member 20 ismoved to a position as shown in FIG. 2, where the aperture 22substantially overlies the opening tab 18 and the parting edges 27a, 27bare substantially aligned with the scoring 19. Since the scoring 19 inthe disclosed embodiment is positioned beneath the end member 17, itwill be appreciated that suitable alignment indicia may be printed orotherwise disposed on the end member 17 to assist in the foregoingalignment procedure. Alternatively, it will be understood that no suchindicia is needed if scoring is applied to the outside of the end member17 as discussed previously. With the opening member 20 thus aligned, theopening member is pressed downwardly to place the point 28 into contactwith the tip region 30 of the opening tab 18, causing the point 28 topenetrate the scoring 19 at the tip regionfl'his initial penetration ofthe end member 17, in the case of a container which lacks a pressurerelease member as defined by the scoring 26 in the disclosed embodiment,causes release of the built-up pressure in the container. The member 20is then pressed downwardly further to cause the parting edges 27a, 27bto sever or part the opening tab 18 along the scoring 19 thereof.

The opening member 20 includes a tab displacing surface 33 disposedalong a length of the underside of the rim 23 in lieu of the partingedge 27a or 27b extending around the remainder of the rim underside. Itcan be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the parting edge 27a (as well asedge 27b, not shown in that Figure) extends fromthe point 28 in asomewhat arcuate configuration toward the container attachment end ofthe opening member, so that the parting edges as applied to the openingtab 18 present points of parting or shearing force travelling from thetip region 30 of the opening tab around both sides of the tab along thescoring 19 toward the bending line 34 of the opening tab. The bendingline 34, which is the scored portions 19a, 19b and by the unscoredsegment 25, is positioned to be be neath and slightly offset toward therivet 21, relative to the tab displacing surface 33 on the underside ofthe opening member 20. As the severing or parting of the opening tab 18along the scoring 19 is completed, continuing downward pressure appliedto the opening member 20 forces the tab displacing surface 33 againstthe tab 18 to bend the tab along the bending line 34 away from the planeof the end member 17, as seen in FIG. 5. Opening of the container iscompleted when the opening tab 18 is bent or otherwise displaced asubstantial distance downwardly into the container, so that the beverageor other contents of the container can readily be poured or consumedfrom the container opening 36 provided by the parting and downwarddisplacement of the opening tab 18. The opening member 20 preferablyremains in position over the opening 36, since the aperture 22 issuitable for drinking or pouring purposes and since the surrounding rim23 protects the lips and tongue of the drinker from possible contactwith the edge remaining along the scoring 19. The opening member 20 isretained in position over the opening 36 left by the tab 18 throughfrictional engagement between the downwardly depending side 35 of theparting edge 27 and the adjacent side of the opening 36. The unscoredsegment 25 retains the tab 18 attached to the end member 17, althoughthe scored portions 19a, 19b may break away during bending of the tab.

Although the self-opening container top as described thus far uses anopening tab 18 wherein the metalsevering operation is partiallyaccomplished by the scoring 19 and is completed by force applied throughthe parting edges 27a, 27b, the opening tab 18 may alternatively bedefined by completing the metalsevering operation along the line 19 andalong the portions 19a, 19b during the manufacture of the container endmember 17. If such alternative construction is followed, the severedportion of the opening tab 18 in such case must be provided with anappropriate liquid and pressure sea] by suitable techniques, such as asealing tape or substance applied to the underside of the end member 17to sealingly cover the severed line defining the tab 18. The subsequentopening of the container by downwardly applied pressure to the properlypositioned opening member 20 will cause the parting edges 27a, 27b tosever the tape or other sealing substance along the already-severedmetal edge.

Although the use ofa pressure release member as described above iseffective in assisting the container opening procedure by releasing thegaseous pressure within the container before the initial penetration ofthe scoring 19 by the point of the opening tab, it will be understoodthat the pressure release member may be omitted from the end member 17.The pressure within the container is then released upon initialpenetration of the tab-defining scoring by the opening tab. Of course,substantial pressure will be encountered only in containers which arefilled with carbonated beverages or the like, or are purposelypressurized. The scoring 26 which defines the pressure release membermay be on either or both sides of the end member 17.

As an alternative to the arrangement of the opening tab 18 located onthe end member 17 at a position spaced apart from the recess 31, thescoring 19 can be disposed on the end member within the recess 31 sothat the opening tab 18 is defined to be on the bottom of the recess.This alternative arrangement may require some modification of theopening member 20 to relocate the parting edges 27a, 27b from theposition sur-,

rounding the aperture 22 (seen in FIG. 1) to a position surrounding therim 23 of the opening member. When opening a container constructedaccording to the present alternative arrangement, the opening member isalready disposed with the parting edges 27a, 27b substantially alignedwith the scoring defining the opening tab; the opening member 20 isfirst raised to break the pressure release member (if provided), and isthen pressed downwardly to accomplish initial penetration and severingor parting of the opening tab 18 along the scoring 19 thereof.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the opening member 20 can beaffixed on the end member in alignment with the opening tab 18 withoutdisposing the opening tab within the recess 31. Such an arrangement,however, may be somewhat more subject to accidental opening ofcontainers, since the opening member 20 is not protected from theapplication of unwanted forces by being disposed within the recess 31.

Considering next a second embodiment of the present invention asdepicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown an opening member 40 which ismodified with respect to the previously-described opening member 20 bythe absence of an aperture 22 extending through the portion of theopening member designed to overly and open the tab 18. In place of theaperture 22, the opening member 40 includes a closure 41 which isperipherially surrounded on the underside of the opening member by theparting edges 27a, 2717, including the point 28, and by the tabdisplacing surface 33. The container-opening operation of the embodimentdepicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 is substantially the same as describedpreviously herein; the severing or parting of an opening tab is causedby the point 28 and the parting edges, followed by downward bending ofthe tab 18 being caused by the tab displacing surface 33. When theopening of the container is completed, the closure'41 is coincidentallyreceived within the container opening 36, and so the just-openedcontainer is closed by the closure 41. As seen in FIG. 7, the closure 41is disposed within a region 42 recessed below the upper surface or planeof the opening member 40. The recessed region 42 serves the dualfunctions of providing additional surface features on the opening member40 to enable this member to be readily grapsed for movement from itsstored position in a recess 31 to the tab-overlying position, and ofdisposing the closure 41 within the opening 36 when the opening tab 18is bent inwardly.

Once the container has been opened with the container top opening memberaccording to FIGS. 6 and 7, the closure 41 can be readily removed fromthe container opening 36 by lifting the rim 23 upwardly from the endmember 17 and by moving the opening member out of alignment withcontainer opening to another location, such as, for example, the recess31. The container opening 36 is now exposed for pouring or drinking fromthe container, and it will be understood that the opening member can bereturned at will to a position permitting the closure 41 to be againinserted in the container opening for closure purposes.

A third embodiment of the self-opening container top invention is shownin FIGS. 8-12 and eliminates the need for the pivotal attachmentprovided in the two previously-described embodiments between thecontainer top and the opening member. The container end member 50 isprovided with an opening tab 51 defined by the underside score line 52with the tab positioned for opening by an opening member 53, all suchelements bearing substantial structural and operational resemblance tothe corresponding elements previously described herein. However, the endmember 50 and the opening member 53 are advantageously formed from asingle blank of metal or another suitable material, as shown in FIG. 8,with the score line 52 advantageously formed on either or both sides ofthe end member 50 by the stamping or blanking operation. The openingmember 53 is formed integrally with the end member 50 by a connectingneck 54 having a notch 55 provided at one side thereof for a purpose tobe described below. It will be understood that the rolled-under edge 56surrounding a portion of the rim 57, as well as the parting edges 58a,58b, the tab displacing surface 59, and the point 60 may be formed onthe opening member 53 by metal working operations provided subsequentlyto the actual stamping or blanking of the integral end member-openingmember, such structural elements being depicted in FIG. 8 forillustrative purposes.

Installation of the end member 50 on a container 63, for example, isaccomplished by folding the neck 54 over itself to place the openingmember 53 more or less parallel with the end member 50. As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the neck 54 is folded over the chime 64 of thecontainer 63 when the end member 50 is attached to the container. Theopening member 53 preferably is disposed as shown in FIG. 9 to benormally offset from alignment with the opening tab 51, so that anyuntimely pressure or force applied to the opening member 53 will notpress the parting edges 58a, 58b against the score line 52.

When it is desired to open the container top shown in FIGS. 8-12, theopening member 53 is moved from the offset position shown in FIG. 9 maposition as shown in FIG. 10, to align the parting edges 58a, 58b of theopening member 53 with the score line 52 of the end member 50. Thismovement of the opening member 53 is accomplished by bending the neckportion 65 which extends from the chime 64 toward the rim 57; the notch55 previously provided in the neck 54 facilitates the bending of theneck required in this repositioning of the opening member. The openingmember 53 then is pressed downwardly to cause initial penetration of theend member 50 by the point 60, separation of the opening tab 51 alongthe score line 52, and then inward bending or displacement of the tab 51in the manner related above with respect to the firstdescribedembodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 12, the side 66 ofthe parting edge 58 extends inwardly of the container opening 68 andprovides frictional retention of the opening member 53 therein. Anaperture 67 disposed within the rim 57 permits the beverage in thenow-opened container to be poured or consumed directly from the can.

It will be understood that the foregoing relates only to preferredembodiments of the present invention and that numerous alterations ormodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Openable container apparatus, comprising:

a container member mounted on a container and having an exteriorsurface;

a container opening portion at least partially defined on said containermember by a region of predetermined structural weakness relative to theremainder of the container member; opening means positioned on saidcontainer member in substantially flat alignment with said exteriorsurface and operative for selective movement toward said exteriorsurface of container member;

means positioned on said opening means in confronting relation with saidexterior surface and in selective confronting alignment with said regionand operative to sever said region in response to said selectivemovement of said opening means toward said exterior surface.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

means disposed on said opening means in confronting relation with saidopening portion for contacting and displacing said severed containeropening portion into the container in response to movement of saidopening means toward said severed container opening portion.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

said container opening portion is defined by a region of predeterminedstructural weakness of said container member and by a second region ofsubstan-' tially unchanged structural quality relative to said containermember;

said means for severing selectively makingsevering.

engagement with said first region and not making severing emgagementwith said second region. 4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: saidopening means includes an aperture which is at least partiallysurrounded by said means for severing and which is positioned by saidselective movement to be in substantial alignment with the containeropening provided by said displacement of said severed container openingportion into the container. g

5. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein:

said opening means includes a closure member confronting said exteriorsurface and positioned by said selective movement to removably close thecontainer opening provided by said displacement of said severedcontainer opening portion into the container.

6. A self-opening member for a container, comprisingz a container memberhaving an exterior surface; said container member being at leastpartially severed along a predetermined path to define an openable tabportion on said container member;

a substantially flat tab opening member positioned on the container insubstantially flat relation alongside said exterior surface of saidcontainer member;

severing means disposed on said tab opening member in confrontingrelation with said exterior surface of said container member andoperative to sever said container member along said predetermined pathwhen urged thereagainst; and

said tab opening member being positioned for selective movement towardsaid exterior surface of said container member to urge said severingmeans into severing contact with said predetermined path.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein:

said tab opening member includes an aperture disposed in fixed relationwith said severing means' 8. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein:

said tab opening member is selectively positionable on said surfacemember to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned withsaid predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severingmeans is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path.

9. A self-opening member for a container, comprising:

a container member;

said container member being at least partially severed along apredetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said surfacemember;

a tab opening member operatively disposed adjacent said containermember;

means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting spaced apartrelation with said container member and operative to sever saidcontainer member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst;

said tab opening member being selectively movable to urge said severingmeans from said spaced apart relation into severing contact with saidpredetermined path;

said tab opening member including an aperture disposed in fixed relationwith said severing means and substantially alignable with said openabletab portion;

said tab opening member being selectively positionable on said surfacemember to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned withsaid predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severingmeans is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path;

means disposed on said container member at a location thereon spacedapart from said tab member to define a receptacle; and

said tab opening member being selectively positionable to said firstposition-to be at least partially received in said receptacle means.

10. A self-opening member for a container, comprising:

a container member;

said container member being at least partially severed along apredetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said surfacemember;

a tab opening member operatively disposed adjacent said containermember;

means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting spaced apartrelation with said container member and operative to sever saidcontainer member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst;

said tab opening member being selectively movable to urge said severingmeans from said spaced apart relation into severing contact with saidpredetermined path; 1

said tab opening member including an aperture disposed in fixed relationwith said severing means and substantially alignable with said openabletab portion;

said tab opening member being selectively positionable on said surfacemember to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned withsaid predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severingmeans is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path; and

said tab opening member being operatively disposed adjacent saidcontainer member by means ofa connective member extending between saidtab opening member and an edge region of said container member.

11. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said tab opening member isconnected to said exterior surface of said container member in saidsubstantially fiat relation at a location spaced apart from said tabportion and is operative for displacement about said location and intocontact with said exterior surface in response to force exerted on thetab opening member in a direction toward the exterior surface, saidmeans to sever being urged into said severing contact with saidpredetermined path in response to said displacement of the tab openingmember.

12. Apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising:

a displacement surface disposed on said tab opening member inconfronting relation with said exterior surface and in position tocontact and to displace said severed tab portion inwardly of thecontainer when said tab opening member is moved from said spaced apartrelation into said severing contact.

13. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein:

said tab opening member includes an aperture which is substantiallyaligned with said openable tab portion and which is positioned on theopening remaining in said exterior surface when said tab portion issevered.

14. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein:

said tab opening member includes container closure means confrontingsaid exterior surface and selectively removably insertable in closurerelation with the opening which is formed in said container member byopening of said openable tab portion.

15. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein:

said openable tab portion is defined by a predetermined path at leastpartially severed from said container member and by a second region ofsubstantially unchanged structural quality relative to said containermember; and

displacing means disposed on said tab opening member in confrontingrelation with said exterior surface to contact said openable tab portionon the severed side of said second region when said tab opening memberis moved into severing contact with said predetermined path.

16. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein:

said opening means is attached to a certain location on said containermember; and

said certain location is partially defined on said container member by asecond region of predetermined structural weakness relative to theremainder of the container member and said opening means is operativeto'sever said second region in response to selective movement of saidopening means away from said container member.

17. 17 Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein:

said tab opening member being attached to a certain location on saidcontainer member;

said certain location being partially defined'by a second region ofpredetermined structural weakness which is breakable when subjected toforce applied through said tab opening member; and

said certain location being retained in connection with the remainder ofsaid container member notand said connective member are formed of aunitary piece of material.

21. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said means for severing comprisespoint means operative to make initial severing penetration at apredetermined location of initial contact on said region in response toinitial selective movement of said opening means, and further comprisesedge means extending from said point means and operative for severingengagement of said region from said predetermined location progressivelyalong the remainder of said region in response to further selectivemovement of said opening means.

1. Openable container apparatus, comprising: a container member mountedon a container and having an exterior surface; a container openingportion at least partially defined on said container member by a regionof predetermined structural weakness relative to the remainder of thecontainer member; opening means positioned on said container member insubstantially flat alignment with said exterior surface and operativefor selective movement toward said exterior surface of container member;means positioned on said opening means in confronting relation with saidexterior surface and in selective confronting alignment with said regionand operative to sever said region in response to said selectivemovement of said opening means toward said exterior surface. 2.Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: means disposed on saidopening means in confronting relation with said opening portion forcontacting and displacing said severed container opening portion intothe container in response to movement of said opening means toward saidsevered container opening portion.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:said container opening portion is defined by a region of predeterminedstructural weakness of said container member and by a second region ofsubstantially unchanged structural quality relative to said containermember; said means for severing selectively making severing engagementwith said first region and not making severing emgagement with saidsecond region.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said opening meansincludes an aperture which is at least partially surrounded by saidmeans for severing and which is positioned by said selective movement tobe in substantial alignment with the container opening provided by saiddisplacement of said severed container opening portion into thecontainer.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said opening meansincludes a closure member confronting said exterior surface andpositioned by said selective movement to removably close the containeropening provided by said displacement of said severed container openingportion into the container.
 6. A self-opening member for a container,comprising: a container member having an exterior surface; saidcontainer member being at least partially severed along a predeterminedpath to define an openable tab portion on said container member; asubstantially flat tab opening member positioned on the container insubstantially flat relation alongside said exterior surface of saidcontainer meMber; severing means disposed on said tab opening member inconfronting relation with said exterior surface of said container memberand operative to sever said container member along said predeterminedpath when urged thereagainst; and said tab opening member beingpositioned for selective movement toward said exterior surface of saidcontainer member to urge said severing means into severing contact withsaid predetermined path.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tabopening member includes an aperture disposed in fixed relation with saidsevering means and substantially alignable with said openable tabportion.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member isselectively positionable on said surface member to a first positionwherein said severing means is unaligned with said predetermined pathand to a second position wherein said severing means is disposed insevering proximity to said predetermined path.
 9. A self-opening memberfor a container, comprising: a container member; said container memberbeing at least partially severed along a predetermined path to define anopenable tab portion on said surface member; a tab opening memberoperatively disposed adjacent said container member; means disposed onsaid tab opening member in confronting spaced apart relation with saidcontainer member and operative to sever said container member along saidpredetermined path when urged thereagainst; said tab opening memberbeing selectively movable to urge said severing means from said spacedapart relation into severing contact with said predetermined path; saidtab opening member including an aperture disposed in fixed relation withsaid severing means and substantially alignable with said openable tabportion; said tab opening member being selectively positionable on saidsurface member to a first position wherein said severing means isunaligned with said predetermined path and to a second position whereinsaid severing means is disposed in severing proximity to saidpredetermined path; means disposed on said container member at alocation thereon spaced apart from said tab member to define areceptacle; and said tab opening member being selectively positionableto said first position to be at least partially received in saidreceptacle means.
 10. A self-opening member for a container, comprising:a container member; said container member being at least partiallysevered along a predetermined path to define an openable tab portion onsaid surface member; a tab opening member operatively disposed adjacentsaid container member; means disposed on said tab opening member inconfronting spaced apart relation with said container member andoperative to sever said container member along said predetermined pathwhen urged thereagainst; said tab opening member being selectivelymovable to urge said severing means from said spaced apart relation intosevering contact with said predetermined path; said tab opening memberincluding an aperture disposed in fixed relation with said severingmeans and substantially alignable with said openable tab portion; saidtab opening member being selectively positionable on said surface memberto a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned with saidpredetermined path and to a second position wherein said severing meansis disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path; and saidtab opening member being operatively disposed adjacent said containermember by means of a connective member extending between said tabopening member and an edge region of said container member. 11.Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said tab opening member is connected tosaid exterior surface of said container member in said substantiallyflat relation at a location spaced apart from said tab portion and isoperative for displacement about said location and into contact withsaid exterior sUrface in response to force exerted on the tab openingmember in a direction toward the exterior surface, said means to severbeing urged into said severing contact with said predetermined path inresponse to said displacement of the tab opening member.
 12. Apparatusas in claim 6, further comprising: a displacement surface disposed onsaid tab opening member in confronting relation with said exteriorsurface and in position to contact and to displace said severed tabportion inwardly of the container when said tab opening member is movedfrom said spaced apart relation into said severing contact. 13.Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member includes anaperture which is substantially aligned with said openable tab portionand which is positioned on the opening remaining in said exteriorsurface when said tab portion is severed.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 6,wherein: said tab opening member includes container closure meansconfronting said exterior surface and selectively removably insertablein closure relation with the opening which is formed in said containermember by opening of said openable tab portion.
 15. Apparatus as inclaim 6, wherein: said openable tab portion is defined by apredetermined path at least partially severed from said container memberand by a second region of substantially unchanged structural qualityrelative to said container member; and displacing means disposed on saidtab opening member in confronting relation with said exterior surface tocontact said openable tab portion on the severed side of said secondregion when said tab opening member is moved into severing contact withsaid predetermined path.
 16. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: saidopening means is attached to a certain location on said containermember; and said certain location is partially defined on said containermember by a second region of predetermined structural weakness relativeto the remainder of the container member and said opening means isoperative to sever said second region in response to selective movementof said opening means away from said container member.
 17. 17 Apparatusas in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member being attached to acertain location on said container member; said certain location beingpartially defined by a second region of predetermined structuralweakness which is breakable when subjected to force applied through saidtab opening member; and said certain location being retained inconnection with the remainder of said container member notwithstandingthe occurrence of said breakage of said second region.
 18. Apparatus asin claim 9 wherein: said tab opening member is movably attached to saidcontainer member to be selectably positionable to said first and secondpositions.
 19. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein: said connective memberis aligned to position said tab opening member in said first position;and said connective member is yieldable to enable said tab openingmember to be selectively moved to said second position.
 20. Apparatus asin claim 19, wherein: said container member, said tab opening member,and said connective member are formed of a unitary piece of material.21. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said means for severing comprisespoint means operative to make initial severing penetration at apredetermined location of initial contact on said region in response toinitial selective movement of said opening means, and further comprisesedge means extending from said point means and operative for severingengagement of said region from said predetermined location progressivelyalong the remainder of said region in response to further selectivemovement of said opening means.